Bear 32 'Chunk' Wins 2025 Fat Bear Week After Overcoming Injury

Bear 32, affectionately known as 'Chunk,' has been crowned the 2025 Fat Bear Week champion at Alaska's Katmai National Park and Preserve. This victory comes after two consecutive years as the runner-up in the annual competition that celebrates the bears' pre-hibernation weight gain.

Chunk secured the title with 96,350 votes, surpassing his final-round competitor, Bear 856, by 32,625 votes. The park announced the results on Tuesday, highlighting Chunk's resilience in overcoming a significant injury earlier this year.

In June, Chunk returned to the Brooks River with a broken jaw, an injury likely sustained during a fight with another male bear during mating season. Despite concerns about his ability to feed and maintain his dominance, Chunk adapted by learning to eat salmon without full use of his mandible. Park officials noted that his broken jaw is a permanent disability that will not return to normal.

Fat Bear Week is an annual event that celebrates the bears of Brooks River as they prepare for hibernation by bulking up on salmon. Chunk, estimated to weigh over 1,200 pounds, has been a prominent figure in the competition since its inception in 2014. His victory this year not only marks a personal achievement but also underscores the resilience and adaptability of the species in the face of challenges.